They Examined the Scriptures to See if What Paul was Saying was True

Please, don't just believe me!  Yes, you heard me right.  Please, don't just believe me.  Here is what I'd like you to do instead:

Pray for God to reveal to you the truth, his truth.  Search the Scriptures to see if what I say is true.  When you ask God to reveal the truth you have to be honestly willing and desiring of truth.  God is a good Father and won't give you a stone if you ask for bread.  The Bible says to "test the spirits to see  whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1)

I started the post in this way because not every teacher of the Christian faith is telling you the truth.  Not every little white building with a cross on it is truly a church of Jesus Christ, even if they use his name.  You need to be earnestly seeking the truth and willing to look carefully at what you are being taught in order to be sure that you're not being mislead and I want you to start right here with me.  Don't just believe me, please.

Paul was sharing the Gospel in a Greek city called Berea and here is what Luke said of the Bereans in the second chapter of Acts:

"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."

How did the Bereans know if Paul was preaching the truth?  They examined the Scriptures.  Luke didn't tell us that they knew based on how it made them feel.  He didn't say that they gathered together afterward and took a vote for a majority rule.  He didn't say they weighed it against worldly opinion.  They examined the Scriptures.  Why?  Because they knew that God couldn't speak against himself or contrary to his Word.  They understood the prophetic word to be true.  Jesus said in John 10 "The Scripture cannot be broken."

Peter was very aware that, as the Gospel of Jesus spread throughout the Middle East, Asia, and to Rome and that many false teachers had arisen (and would arise), that were perverting the Gospel.  He knew that there was "no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."  He understood that Scripture was "God breathed" and the words of the prophets were not just stories they made up.  He knew that the Gospel that he and the Apostles preached was given to them by Jesus and now went forth in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Listen to Peter's words:

We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty." (2 Peter 1:6)

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:20-21)

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  (2 Peter 2:1)

If there was true teaching it must have had some solid foundation and some points that these false teachers were veering from.  I want to put forth a word that many in the liberal church (not politically liberal but theologically liberal) avoid like the mumps - "Doctrine".

Doctrine can be defined as - a principle or position or the body of principles in a branch of knowledge or system of belief.

If anyone holds to sound doctrine they are called "fundamentalists". I have been called a fundamentalist and I am thankful that they recognize the same fundamentals in me as were in Paul, Peter, and in Jesus himself.  What does fundamental mean?

-serving as an original or generating source

-of or relating to essential structure, function, or facts

You see, the fundamentals that I have been given were first given to the Apostles both in the form of the Old Testament and later in the Word made flesh - Jesus Christ.  It was the original and essential part of their faith!  How important were the fundamental beliefs of the Apostles?  Listen to Paul's words:

He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. (Titus 1:9)

You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. (Titus 2:1)

Paul also reminded the Corinthian church of the Gospel he was given and said he passed it along as "first importance" then shared again the facts of Jesus' life, death, burial, and resurrection.

I'd like to remind you of some of the Biblical truths that are being called into question by some in the pulpits of the church, especially the comfortable western church.  

1) the divine inspiration and truth of the Bible 

2) the virgin birth, the resurrection, and the divinity of Jesus (i.e. Jesus being being God)

3) Jesus being the only way to God

I was told by a pastor that people from other nations and those with different belief systems had their way to God just as we have ours and that it was not the responsibility of Christian leaders to "foist" Jesus into their equations.  I have been told that I have put God in a box.  So here is the deal.  Please don't believe me.  Pray for God to reveal the truth to you and then listen.  Search the Word of God (if you indeed believe the Bible to be the Word of God) and see what is true.  Did Jesus place himself into groups of people from different nations and belief systems?  Did the Apostles travel to far away lands to share the Gospel of Jesus with those who were worshiping false gods?  Did they die violent deaths in order to do that?  Did Jesus tell us that he was one of many ways to the Father?  Did Jesus teach a social Gospel to feed the poor, clothe the naked, and heal the sick void of  himself and the kingdom of God?  

Paul said that there would be a time when people wouldn't put up with sound doctrine but would instead surround themselves with teachers who would tell them what their itching ears wanted to hear.  Today Jesus is being watered down and combined with and blended with other belief systems.  It has a form of Godliness but is void of its power.  It looks a little like Christianity but is not.  Jesus is a great moral teacher and many say "he is the way for me" but don't find him terribly necessary for others if they have found their own way.  If you want to know the truth you have to be open to it.  If you come into the Word and to the faith clinging to your agendas (no matter how apparently noble) you will come out with a religion that is partly Jesus and mostly you. As for me, I don't want more of me but less!

Peace and Grace,

David